Washington, D.C. in the 1960s

1967 Map of Unbuilt D.C. Highways

Mar 12, 2019

Why doesn't 395 cut through Washington, DC? This is the history of highways in DC.

31 March 1963 President John F. Kennedy and family watch Caroline Kennedy riding a horse named "Tex" at Camp David. "Tex" is wearing a blue and gold Moroccan saddle, a gift to President Kennedy from King Hassan II. Photograph includes: (L-R) Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr., First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and President Kennedy. Camp David, Maryland. Please credit "Robert Knudsen, White House/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston"

The Kennedys at Camp David

Mar 1, 2018

This photo was taken on March 31st, 1963. It shows the whole Kennedy clan happily spending some time together at Camp David. Caroline is...

Looking eastward along the I-495 Capital Beltway in Virginia, east of Springfield, toward the Beltway bridge over the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac (RF&P) Railroad (today's CSX Railroad) in the distance. The highway was nearing completion but not yet open to traffic at this time. Notice that the roadway has three lanes, and that the roadway is paved with reinforced Portland cement concrete. When originally built, the Beltway in Virginia had six lanes (three each way) between I-95 at Springfield and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and all the way through Maryland. This photo was taken in 1963 by the Virginia Department of Highways.

Origin of the Term “Beltway Bandit”

Jan 19, 2018

Before the days of Booz Allen, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, the term 'Beltway Bandit' was applied to the nefarious behavior of a common area...

Proposed Southside Freeway in Arlington

Oct 11, 2016

Here's an interesting proposal for the Southside Freeway in Arlington, which never came to be. This graphic is from The Washington Post printed on October...

A menu for bottle liquors room service at the Willard Hotel. (back)

Old Time Willard Hotel Room Service Menu

Jun 28, 2016

How cool is this find? We dug up this great old menu for the Willard Hotel's room service at Discover DC History. Click on...

View of Rosslyn over the Key Bridge in 1964

1964 View of Rosslyn Skyline

Dec 29, 2015

This old photo is over 50 years old, showing what Rosslyn looked like from Georgetown in 1964. Source: Library of Congress

Capitol Building and a lot of cars parked in front of it in the 1960s

You Won’t See the Capitol Like This Ever Again

Oct 14, 2015

This photo of the Capitol Building from the 1960s is something you'll never see again. The Capitol Dome under construction and a lot of...

Aerial view of the Washington Navy Yard, looking east (top). This shot shows the Navy Yard’s borders: M Street on the north (left); the waterfront on the south; 11th street on the east, and 2nd street on the west (foreground). On the right bank of the river is Anacostia, September 1963. NHHC Photograph Collection, Navy Subject Files, Washington Navy Yard. (214).

Aerial Views of the Navy Yard in the 1960s, 70s, and...

Sep 9, 2015

This photo is an aerial view of the Navy Yard just a couple of months before President Kennedy was assassinated. Source: National Museum of the...

Vietnam-Era Soldier’s Remains Found 30 years Later at 10th and E...

Aug 20, 2015

Thanks to a tip from GoDCer John, we did some digging into the story of a soldier who disappeared from Ft. Myer in 1967....

The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame memorial under construction in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

President Kennedy’s Gravesite Under Construction in 1965

Jun 8, 2015

This is a fascinating old photo from October 6th, 1965 at Arlington National Cemetery. The construction site shows what would eventually become JFK's gravesite,...

Film Footage of D.C. After 1968 Riots

May 14, 2015

Here is some really sad and devastating film footage that we dug up showing the city after the riots of 1968.

Columbia Heights Tivoli Theater commercial

Photos of Columbia Heights After ’68 Riots

Apr 14, 2015

Here is a series of amazing photos that we came across on Flickr showing the 1968 riots in D.C. We've posted some...

Never Built Three Sisters Bridge Across the Potomac

Apr 13, 2015

This is a story that is most likely unknown to the great majority of GoDCers. Long-time DC residents may remember the controversy...

President Johnson and Opening Day 1967

Apr 10, 2015

We're way late on this, but better late than never. This is a terrific photo shared with by old GoDC friend Phil. Thanks for...

Argument Over Dog Ends in Fatal Shooting

Jan 13, 2015

Here's a sad story that we dug up in The Washington Post from May 26th, 1969. An argument over a dog that bit a young boy...

"Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia, 1958-63. Eero Saarinen, architect. Mobile lounge, control tower and terminal." All we need now is an airplane. Medium format negative by Balthazar Korab.

Beautiful 1960s Photos of Dulles Airport

Jan 9, 2015

Dulles Airport has an almost Mad Men like romanticism, even though these mobile lounges were a giant pain in the ass. The photo below...

1968 War Over D.C. Interstate Highways

Nov 25, 2014

As you all know, D.C. is one of the only cities (if not the lone city) without an interstate highway cutting through the heart...

Columbia Heights Building Boom Could Have Started in 1996

Aug 30, 2014

It's not possible for one to argue that Columbia Heights has been catapulted to the epicenter of gentrification and real estate renaissance over the...